Mehndi

It is becoming a quickly rising trend among women. Henna, also called Mehndi is the traditional art form of hand painting. It's a form of body art. The work is created with henna paste. Henna is a plant long known for its power to color any substance it is applied to. Henna is a small shrub called hawsonia inermis and is found in Iran, India, Pakistan, Egypt, and North Africa. It is a temporary body decoration that looks like a tattoo but isn't. It's fast, easy, painless and is a beautiful form of natural body decoration. It is also commonly used as a hair dye.

There is no actual formula to make the Mehndi paste, but there are basic ingredients that you can combine to make the paste and create your own recipe. The henna leaves are ground into a fine powder. Filter the Mehndi powder through a nylon cloth, to remove the large fibers from the Mehndi, which can get in the way when applying the paste. This powder can be mixed with oil (such as eucalyptus, Nilgiri, or Mehndi oil) and water, to make a thick paste. You have to add the right amount of water when making the paste so the Mehndi isn't too thick or too thin. You need to add some lemon or lime juice to get the color to set.

When using henna as a hair dye...You can mix henna with olive oil and apply it to the hair. Or you can just add water and lemon juice to the henna. You can also add tea to the water to make the color darker. You can use herbal henna once every 2 weeks as a hair conditioner and hair darkener. It stops falling hairs and itching of scalp. It also helps dandruff problems. Regular use makes hair longer, thicker and beautiful.

When applying henna to the body...You can apply henna with toothpicks, cotton swabs or by putting the paste into a cone (similar to a cake decorating tube) that has a tiny hole at the end. This enables the person to make designs in elaborate patterns. A simpler way to apply Mehndi is to put a stencil that is hand-shaped over your hand and spread the henna paste over the entire stencil. It's easy and any one can do it. But it wastes and uses a lot of henna. Mehndi can also come in tubes or bottles. This provides a ready- made, less messy method of Mehndi application. Application takes about 10-15 minutes. Elaborate designs can take longer.

After you apply the menthe you have to wait. You should keep it on for at least 5 hours. It might be uncomfortable at first but the longer you leave it on. The darker the color will be. Henna will set well if it dries with heat. Dry your hands around a candle flame or use a hair dryer. When removing it, scrape it off; don't just wash it off. Once it dries, you have to brush the henna off. The color left behind darkens over the next 12 hours or so. The paste that comes in a ready-made tube only needs to remain on the skin for an hour and it lasts about 12 days.

There are different types of henna available. Black, brown and red. While the color of the actual Mehndi dye is deep green, once it is removed, the dye leaves a color that varies from light orange to a deep brownish-black.

Mehndi has no true purpose in religion. It is meant to enhance beauty. Women use Mehndi to beautify their hands and feet before big occasions such as weddings and holidays. Henna is something that takes a lot of time. Bridal Mehndi covers the hands up to the elbows and the feet up to the knees. It can take at least 8 hours to complete. It is very special for weddings, Eid , the Hindu New Year, Deepawali, parties, big celebrations. But, henna should be as beautiful as the brides.

Although it originated in India, it has spread to other areas. Hands and feet were the only areas traditionally decorated with henna, but now many people apply henna on other parts of the body. But now it is also done around the wrists, navel and on backs. Men are also getting it done on arms and shoulders in designs like dragons and snakes or somebody's names.

Henna powder can be purchased at many health food, beauty supply, or Grocery stores. You can also get Mehndi done at various Mehndi parlors. You can always get a ready-made tube and make your own designs, including arm and ankle bands. It's safe, simple and easy. Do it for the fun and beauty of body decoration.

5 Simple Steps for Smooth, Sexy Legs

Microminiskirts, shorter-than-short shorts, and dresses the size of napkin cloths are still the sexiest look when the weather heats up(to the cheers of guys everywhere). The style is daring and killer legs are the clincher. Exposing yours will be no sweat when you have buttery soft and bronzed skin, zero fuzzy areas, and the illusion of mile-long length. Here's how to get all that without spending too much or wasting any time.

1. Soften Your Skin

Scrub up. For smooth stems, wash with a gentle exfoliating body scrub. Look for one that has moisturizing oils to prevent dryness and flaking.

Polish away. To give legs a gorgeous shine rub in scrubs using brisk circular motions, spending extra time on scaly knees and ankles.

Banish bumps. Get rid of any small red bumps on your thighs with a daily dose of Lac-Hydrin cream. Its lactic acids dissolve prickly patches fast. Get one with 2.5 to 3 percent formulas over the counter and stronger ones by prescription.

Reduce jiggle. Coat your legs with a firming body lotion (it'll call this out on the package). These formulas contain ingredients like caffeine and seaweed extract that temporarily tighten the skin.

2. Go for Bare

Upgrade your razor. The best way to shave is with a four-blade razor. It cuts hairs in a single pass so you don't have to drag the blade over your skin repeatedly.

Keep it steamy. Most of us grab the razor in the shower and get right to work. For the best technique, experts say to hold skin taut and shave in the opposite direction of hair growth. When tackling sensitive areas, like the bikini line, go with the grain to avoid ingrowns.

Lather with the right stuff. Shaving creams with lubricating ingredients, like silicone, oil, and cellulosic gum, can help ward off annoying redness and irritation since they soften the hair and allow the razor to glide right over your skin. Scan product labels to find these smoothers.

Wax with less wincing. If you have the patience and the pain threshold, consider waxing your legs. (Note: Ripping off an entire stretch of hair is pure torture. Try working on small sections at a time with precoated strips)

Treat ingrowns. Despite your best efforts, ingrowns might still happen — especially if you have coarse, curly hair. Don't pick at them; just massage the area with a cotton ball soaked in a glycolic and salicylic-acid face cleanser. This sloughs the skin's top layer, opening the follicle so the hair can pass through.

3. Add Some Shimmer

Enhance your base. If your legs are crypt-keeper pale, warm them up with a gradual self-tanner. Ingredients in the cream react with the skin's amino acids to produce natural-looking brown pigments. Your tone should peak in five to seven days; afterward, apply the lotion every other day to maintain your gleam.

Get a quick glow. If you want a tanned look this second, your best bet is a bronzing oil that you can swipe on before going out at night. The effects only stick around until your next shower though. For something with more staying power, try a mousse or towelette with sunless tanner: Both stain the legs a beachy, golden tint, and the color lasts about a week. You can choose from multiple hues to match your skin tone, and the products are easier to apply evenly than sprays, which can streak all over the place, says Jim Hammer, a cosmetics chemist in Easton, Massachusetts.

Put on the gloves. Before sweeping yourself with a towelette or mousse, pull on Latex rubber gloves. That way, your hands won't soak up the color molecules meant for your legs. Just make sure your stems are not damp or greasy from any lotion, which can block the self-tanner from absorbing fully.

Use broad strokes. Spread the product from the tops of your ankles to just below your knees, with uniform swipes in all directions. Next, focus on your thighs, using a mirror to keep your backside in sight. For knees, dilute the tanner with moisturizer to ensure the dry skin there doesn't turn too dark. Also, skip spots where the sun don't shine. A tanned heel or sole is a dead giveaway.

Erase any streaks. If you end up with a few orange smudges, don't panic. A quick shower should fade them away. If not, add a cup of milk to the bath. The lactic acids should take down the color. If ankles are your only problem, buff away marks with the fine side of an emery board or lighten them up with a bit of cream bleach left on for two to three minutes.

4. Get a Flawless Finish

Outsmart dimples. There's no magic cure for cellulite, but derms agree that lotions with caffeinated ingredients (like coffee, guarana, and tea) can boost circulation and reduce puckering temporarily. Another idea: Take a natural-bristle dry body brush and, starting at your ankles, rub upward, says Chantal Sanders, director of spa and boutique development for Clarins. This stimulates lymphatic drainage, which may ease puffiness. (You can also lay off the salt.)

Lose the bruises. If you tag yourself on the edge of a coffee table, ice the area to prevent swelling. Then obscure the bluish tint by mixing in a few drops of light-reflecting makeup with your daily moisturizer, says Cilmi.

Cover up the rest. To camouflage stretch marks, birthmarks, and spider veins, Linda Rondinella-Osgood, a makeup artist for Miss Universe contestants, dabs on a heavy body concealer.

5. Make Your Toes Pretty

Trim and file. Cut toenails straight across, and file away sharp corners, being careful not to round the edges, which can cause the nail to grow into the surrounding skin.

Prime the skin. Buff away any calluses and rough spots with a pumice stone, then apply a smoothing foot scrub.

Soak it up. Push back your cuticles with a damp washcloth and rub in moisturizer and cuticle oil, letting them sink in for a minute or two. Wipe off any greasy residue that is left behind.

Paint it on. Apply a base coat and two layers of polish. The hottest spring shades bright, punchy colors like hot pink and purple.

Look Pretty

The best way to be pretty is to seem natural. You don't need to bury your face with eyeshadow and blush to look beautiful. This article will show you how to complement your natural shades and shapes to look and feel confident and naturally pretty! Confidence is the one most attractive characteristic in the world. Keep your posture right and your head up as this creates the feeling that you know who you are, what you want, how to be happy and enjoy life.

Smile! Making the effort to smile every once in a while will make you feel better about yourself, and make others feel positive. You can even practice smiling in the mirror--it'll be a great start to your day and set you off in the right mood. You never know who is appreciating your smile!

Use moisturizer suited to your skin type every day. Use a facial scrub at least once a day, but just washing your face doesn't always prevent acne.

Exfoliating, which is removing old skin layers, can certainly help:
-It can lessen blemishes that resulted from Acne.
-But if you have acne, you probably need professional help.


Try going for that fresh summer look by not plastering your face with makeup, but lightly adding it here and there. Makeup is made to enhance your features, not cover them. Apply an eyeliner- eyeliner will add definition to your eyes. Don't wear any shocking colors during the day. Keep natural during the day and play it up during the night. If you have pimples or other face irritation, use an acne formula that won't dry out your skin. Nobody likes scale-like skin!


Keep up to date with fashion magazines--but mix whats new with what you've got,add some of your own style to whats hip and hot,after all we don't want to be clones.
-Pick clothes that flatter your body, but don't go too far. People get the wrong impression if you show too much skin.
-You can be cute and look conservative at the same time! Try a pair of jeans and a nice sweater,or a skirt,make sure your shoes go with the outfit.


Flatter a 'blah' outfit with accessories, but don't over-accessorize! Try a headband or a cute necklace. Remember, less is more.


If you want to feel sexy, try something a little different, like a new skirt or new pair of underwear, but don't go overboard.
-Don't try to wear clothes that don't fit you. If it's too small, or too big, get it tailored or return it.
-Buy clothing that flatters you, so as to create a lean, curvaceous line.


Take care of your hair. Get it trimmed regularly:
-Always brush it, but not too much. Try straightening it to the side, or curling it wavy.
-If you wish to dye your hair, make sure it's one that suits your skin tone--two shades darker or lighter than the natural
color of your hair.


Stand up straight. This makes you look like you respect yourself, and others will follow your lead. Plus, it has the visual effect of smoothing out any bulges that aren't particularly flattering. Posture is important and can make you look more attractive.

Understand the value of inner beauty. There are "pretty" people in this world, but beauty is common. After talking to a few of them, you can begin to think that they aren't so pretty. A bad attitude towards others can make you seem really ugly inside, and make people stop paying attention to who you are on the outside.
-So remember that all the makeup in the world won't help if you are unhappy and negative towards others.
-Respect yourself, respect others and you will feel and look great.

Feel good about yourself. When you feel good, you look good. Have confidence.
-People are attracted to and feel comfortable with people who respect themselves. Liking yourself and respecting yourself doesn't mean you are conceited, it just shows others that you are happy about your appearance.
-A fun, light personality makes everyone comfortable and makes you more approachable.
-Be yourself, be warm to others, and feel great. Soon enough, others are bound to notice.

If your friends give you positive compliments, don't try to change them into negative ones, accept them and use them to make you feel even better. Expressing a modest "thank you" is much healthier than putting yourself down.

Exercise. Everyone loves someone who respects themselves and cares for their body. Looking great doesn't mean makeup and clothes and all that jazz, it means feeling good about yourself and staying healthy.
-Exercise for an hour or half hour at the least every day, and drink 8 glasses of water daily. The water helps you get a nice glow in your skin and makes your complexion much more clear.
-If you don't have time to get to the gym one day, try incorporating 40 minutes of brisk walking - this can be as simple as walking around on coffee and lunch breaks for 20 minutes at a time or even walking to work or school instead of driving or taking the bus.
-Any sports that you find interesting are nice, but if you don't play a sport find an exercise that fits you.

Get enough sleep. This will help you to always look your best. Regular sleeping patterns help your body to effectively regenerate and feel great the next day!

Body Brush everyday. Body brushing is just when you get a plastic(synthetic) or natural bristle brush and rub it in circular motions all over your body, working from the feet upwards and working towards the heart. It helps tone skin, reduce cellulite and it removes all the dead skin which makes you glow! Its best to do it in the morning, because it wakes you up. Make sure to always do it on dry skin.

Maintain good dental hygiene - Brush your teeth after every meal, floss twice daily, use mouth wash, and remember: the more you brush, the better it is.
-However, don't brush hard - you may think it cleans your teeth better, but it's only damaging them.
-Make sure you don't brush until at least 10 minutes after your meal. This can damage your enamel, which will never grow back! If you don't have time to wait, rinse your mouth with water instead.
-Whiten your teeth. Everyone looks better with whiter teeth, and it's not very expensive if you buy the strips you can apply yourself. Also, when you brush your teeth, brush your gums, tongue and inside of cheeks, it makes your mouth feel fresh.

Calculate your body mass index (BMI) to know your healthy weight range. Don't become obsessed with an absolute number or compare your weight to that of others.

Remove unwanted body hair. Depending on cultural preference, wax, shave, or pluck your leg hairs, bikini line (if you are going to be seen in underwear), armpits, eyebrows, and upper lip.

Smile with your eyes. The eyes are the window into one's soul, so if you smile with your eyes, people will immediately be drawn to you.